Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Art Bechhoefer who wrote (45993)	10/13/2000 10:17:50 PM
From: Gordon A. Langston	Respond to of 769667

My wife substituted on short notice for another teacher today, a 5th period class. The other teacher went home a nervous wreck because a student had threatened in no uncertain terms "to kill her" during a pep assembly. Then when 6th period came, and no teacher showed up to take it, my wife went ahead and took this also. The Master List in the office showed no 6th period class for this teacher, therefore they supplied no sub. This was today's story. I get one this good or better every day. A young man that worked for a Class A Construction company (hooked us up to city water last month) locally told me he wanted badly to be a teacher. He was from Minnesota, had the education and credential, was smart, personable and enthusiastic but became disillusioned about the conditions in the workplace. He was afraid his friendly style would be unwelcome at best. Touching students (at least for men) is a risky behavior. The differences between what college faculty get paid and what teachers get paid explains a great part of the difference. If K-12 teachers had graduate level degrees, up to and including PhD, and were trained both in teaching methods and the substance of the courses they teach, and were paid at the higher professional standard consistent with such training, then I could accept a voucher program, at least in principle. Under those conditions, talented teachers would see public schools as a reasonable career alternative. Nothing in the above addresses the problems. Choice is what is achieved by vouchers. That breeds (hopefully) competition and excellence. Public schools in my enlightened opinion are not efficient (cheaper supplies...a lot cheaper at Office Depot than from District warehouse) are not maintained (are in fact neglected) and are handicapped by Federal mandates that have no funding. Your idea of higher pay might make some sense if schools were a desirable venue to earn a living. They're too often not. The fact that we're having this conversation about vouchers is evidence of the problem. Dismantling public education was not even a subject until they had accumulated decades of decay, both physical and academic. Charter schools and magnet schools are further evidence change is needed.